White House Requests Emergency Funding from Congress for Pandemic Relief, Disaster Funds, and Aid for Ukraine

The White House has requested emergency funding from Congress for a number of causes, including pandemic relief for the child care industry, replenishment of U.S. federal disaster funds, and aid for Ukraine.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) wrote an op-ed published by CNN on Wednesday, calling on President Joe Biden to address the looming expiration of pandemic relief funds for the child care industry in an emergency spending package that Congress is expected to take up next month. The package also includes $12 billion to replenish the U.S. federal disaster funds at home after a deadly climate season of heat and storms, and funds to bolster the enforcement at the Southern border with Mexico, including money to curb the flow of deadly fentanyl.

On Thursday, the Biden administration asked Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year. This is a massive infusion of cash as the Russian invasion wears on and Ukraine pushes a counteroffensive against the Kremlin’s deeply entrenched forces.

The last request from the White House for Ukraine funding was easily approved in 2022, but the current dynamic is different. Democrats are calling on President Biden to address the pandemic relief funds for the child care industry in an emergency spending package. It remains to be seen if Congress will approve the requested funds.